Document Type

Syllabus

Publication Date

Spring 2024

Course Description

For over a century, Broadway musicals have been among the most popular and influential forms of entertainment in the United States and beyond. This course explores the genre’s history, creators, performers, innovations, and conventions. After examining the genre’s origins, we will proceed chronologically to consider major stylistic trends and shifts across the decades to the present. Along the way, we will explore how the music, lyrics, and narratives of key musicals interact with cultural issues of their times and ours. By considering their often problematic messages about race, ethnicity, gender, class, politics, and other issues, students will develop a deep understanding of musical theater’s position in society as well as its musico-dramatic structure and conventions. Prerequisites: MUS 266 or consent of instructor.

Student Outcomes

Summarize the history of Broadway musicals as a genre, its shifting forms and stylistic evolution, the contributions of important creators, and how its popularity and relevance have fluctuated over the decades. Interpret musical theater scenes, characters, and productions and how they communicate meaning through their music and lyrics, narratives, conventions, and performance. Critique the underlying ideologies and assumptions in musicals about gender, sexuality, race, politics, class, etc., and analyze how they contribute to personal identities, group stereotypes, and national mythologies. Plan and deliver better presentations and improve your ability to communicate clearly and convincingly. Deepen your ability to reflect on and evaluate your learning as both a process and a product. Cultivate a growth mindset and learn to be your own best teacher.

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